Revitalization of Public Spaces: Sustainable and Bioclimatic Strategies that Improve the Qualities of Skopje's Urban Matrix

This research analyses certain sustainable urban strategies that are in correlation with the improvement of the air quality, lowering of the air temperatures in summer period and improvement of the social cohesion of its habitants. More precisely, this research discusses about the possible ways of application of the analyzed bioclimatic urban strategies for achieving sustainable solutions regarding urban planning and design of a public space in front of the railway station in the center of Skopje. The proposal for new green public space in front of Kenzo Tange's project from 1965 is designed to be context-sensitive and ecologically treated space. It is intended this project to be a new meeting point, with a strong modern attitude in its forms that respects the natural, historical, social and cultural context in which it is placed. This study was conducted in the following steps. At first, the sustainable bioclimatic discourse was analyzed in order to give explanation which of the mentioned sustainable urban principles can be applied on the analyzed case. Then, different analytical methods and information from various scientific areas were used, which helped in detecting the real problems present on the analyzed location. In order to define the adequate bioclimatic strategies that will have ecological and socio-environmental qualities, the so called "green features" were established. "Green feature" in this research represents a sustainable quality of a particular strategy or urban measure that can improve the climate of the city, improve the air quality, lower the summer temperatures, revitalize the chosen location, improve the social cohesion, create people centered urban design and redefine the city values. These "green features" can assist in determining project's sustainability value. Having in mind that this location is situated in dense and polluted urban matrix in the city of Skopje, the bioclimatic strategies recognized in this research were found as applicable solutions in the presented project. These strategies and measures can also be applied in wider urban context on cities with similar environmental problems.